Phil Falk
Photo: NYRR
From Phil Falk of the Open:
The “Washington Heights Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks 5K” is the traditional kick-off race for the NYRR club points season. Look, let’s be real, it was a rough month for training. As you’ve probably read, it was the coldest February in 80 years and third coldest on record. With an average temperate of 24 degrees, and RealFeel regularly in the single digits (or below), getting out for those early mornings or late nights has required a steeled sense of impenetrability. Basically whole weeks where the temperature never even touched the normal lows for the month.
And for a more prosaic interpretation:
Winter shrinks the vision, narrows it to the limits of a parka hood. It numbs the heart, dulls the reflexes of graciousness and gratitude as people’s behavior on sidewalks and train platforms shifts to self-preservation. It bends the neck, as the eyes scan for ice, gauging the leapability of slush puddles and the danger of left-turning, nonyielding cabs. Is that filthy, black-edged snowbank crusty enough to slip on, or soft enough to sink into? Will I break my ankle or just soak it? Should I give up now, and die right here? It’s windy. It hurts. I can’t go on. I’ll go on.
BUT for what it’s worth, I think this winter has made us tough. as. nails.
After last year’s pile-up at the starting line (which put this author on the sidelines for a month), the incident at this race came before the gun. With temperatures hovering around 25-degrees, most people waited until the last minute to check their bag – and many of them also had a small drawstring / backpack for their stuff, a big no-no in the new (and unnecessary) security regime put in place by NYRR. Combined with some inexperienced / apathetic security, this caused a huge bottleneck for the baggage line, and caused some people to barely make to the start and other to miss the gun entirely.
But the men put up great results, sealing a solid third place behind the usual team contenders. Our top seven finished sub-16:30, with Kerwin Vega leading the charge. Special shout-out to our second finisher, Kyle Marks – this was his first NYRR race and first race for the club. The young gun has some quick times ahead on the road and track!
Kerwin Vega 15:39 Kyle Marks 15:47 Phil Falk 15:57 Matt Lacey 16:00 Greg Cass 16:08
From David Greenberg of the 40+:
The 40+ men opened the defense of their 2014 championship with a third place run in Washington Heights. While third is not where the team wants to be, our scoring three were actually faster this year than last year, when we were second. It’s a tough town.
Daniel Gercke and Cary Segall
Our scorers were Daniel Gercke (17:25/83.34%/3rd AG), Cary Segall (17:31/77.92%/6th AG) and Coleman Cowan (17:59/78.30%/8th AG). Warren Street won the race and a reborn Urban Athletics was second.
While the 5k is of course a staple road racing distance, we of New York run relatively few of them. Which makes the Washington Heights 5k odd to write about because while a PR is a PR, we could all run faster on a flat course.
That said, four of us – a full 31% of the 40-49 squad on the day – set all time NYRR 5k PRs: Coleman Cowan, Nick Garramone, Daniel Gercke and Cary Segall. Can’t argue with that kind of day.
And Laurence Go set an all-time NYRR AG% best for 5k. Larry summed up the challenge that is Coogan’s pretty well :
It was (a good race) but I had a faster time in 2012. My problem with yesterday was I left too much in the tank for the end. I had a 7:16 first mile and a 6:35 mile pace for the last 1.1 mile. I’ve done this race 7 times and it’s still a hard one for me to figure out tactically. Too hard on the first mile and you struggle on the hills. Too hard up the hills and you got jelly legs for the final downhill mile. Too slow on the first mile and it’s impossible to make up the time even with the fast downhill last mile. I’ll keep trying. Hopefully, I’ll get it right next year. On the positive side I felt really strong throughout .
Coleman Cowan:
It’s a true sign of a brutal winter when running in 28 degrees feels nice, or at least not as arctic as it has been out there for the past few months. With no wind to battle, and only a few steep hills to conquer, I managed to sneak in just under 18:00, which was my goal coming into the race, and a nice PR to start the season. Lots of track work inside and cold runs outside this winter helped me knock off 52 seconds from my time last year, and more importantly, kept me upright after that first mile climb. Here’s looking forward to flatter courses and warmer temperatures for us all in the (hopefully) near future…
Nick Garramone:
After the 5-mile warm up, I started the race not feeling that great (probably something I ate). I was definitely writing the race off at that point. I muddled through the first mile, but then started picking off people in mile 2. On the last hill, Tony shouted encouragement and I definitely changed my form, kicking up and over the hill at an accelerating speed through the finish line. My PR was three things: First, the speed work (I’ve been taking it indoors). Second, strength training, especially single leg exercises, with Justin Cawley. Third, Tony on the hill!
Daniel Gercke:
I have baggage with this race – it was the last one I ran in 2012 before I had to take 2 years off racing. Focus is critical on a course that never stops rollercoastering, and I didn’t have it Sunday. Mile 1 was a chore rather than a challenge. Cliff worked with me as he passed in mile 2, and in mile 3 I caught up to Cary. His unflagging help and Tony’s cheering lifted me over the last hill, but I never quite found the lightning. Yes, it was a 4-second PR. It just wasn’t the race I imagined I had in me. I still have unfinished business with this course.
Credit also to Tim Stockert, and Daniel Ifcher, who scored top 10 age group finishes. Tim and Daniel ran over 20 miles on the day – Just 7 weeks until Boston.
Our strength is in our numbers – we tend to keep coming after it, race after race, and letting our depth come to the forefront. For example, our scoring three completely turned over compared to 2014. We have time to catch up.
Scotland is next – Sign up quickly – it is almost sold out. And anecdotally, that’s one of the fastest races of the year – don’t miss out on a solid PR opportunity.
Further north, our Peter Brady ran second at the Masters 1500 at the USATF National Championships in Boston. His 4:02.21 is an all-time CPTC record for the 40+ indoor 1500.
Rawle Delisle also set some records – all-time best in the 40+ 200 (22.59) and second in the 400 (50.55).
From Chris Donnelly of the 50+:
Frigid temperatures, a scrum for the baggage check, an infamously undulating course, and stiff competition were the order of the day for CPTC’s 50+ men at Sunday’s Washington Heights 5k, the inaugural club points race of the season.
We were edged out of third place by a mere second, but there’s plenty of time to make that up between now and December.
Our scorers were Alan Ruben, Chris Donnelly, and Mikal Scott, but they had plenty of support from a strong team turn-out that included Bob Markinson, Art Palmer, Oscar Garcia, Budd Heyman, and Joe Bachana.
Alan is showing the goods as he preps for the Boston Marathon. Alan’s 18:38 race (83.92% AG) topped the 55-59 age group. Chris Donnelly ran 20:03 (75.37%). Mikal Scott’s 20:26 (75.26% AG) rounded out the scoring, and his time was good for fourth place in the 55-59 category.
Bob Markinson, a recent addition to the team, was next in line, running 21:51 (69.21%). Bob doesn’t have a long history of NYRR races, but this was by far his best performance in a race hosted by RoadRunners. Art Palmer’s 22:07 (71.28%) was good for 13th place in the 55-59 age group, while Oscar Garcia breezed in next, at 22:26 (67.38%). Stalwart Budd Heyman was hot on Oscar’s heels, with a 22:29 (69.53%). Joe Bachana was just a few steps behind, at 22:34 (65.40%).
That’s one race down in the 2015 club points competition, with another nine to go. At Washington Heights, the difference between second and fourth places was a mere 31 seconds. It’s shaping up to be an exciting year.
From Hank Schiffman of the 60+:
With a cold kick in the pants, the 2015 NYRR Team Point racing season is off and running. And a cold splash of water it was to our 60+ men. We fought hard to earn 3rd place in 1:05:55 behind a superb trio at Brooklyn RR, 1:00:30, and the new phenom at Witold’s, Luis Tipan in 19:36, giving them 1:05:13. West Side Runners were 35 seconds behind us and Taconic, hampered by their fastest talent not in the mix finished 5th in 1:08:33.
Gary Gosselin has proven to be a force to be reckoned with as he snapped at my heels running 21:33 to my 21:19. Durability was the trump card for us older gents in this cold race. We all feel the cold, but older athletes feel its bite that much more.
Gary, Kevin, Phil, George and Dave get gold stars for bravery by being on the starting line in spite of the forecast. Logistics were the key to making it to the start. I warmed up on the mezzanine of the A train at the 168th St station, a long, slow run enough in each direction for one minute before turning in the opposite direction. It saved me from the hassle of the NYRR baggage ordeal as I was driving to Vermont after the race and needed to be on the A train south posthaste, post race. Just before the horn, I discarded my “garbage bag” top and tore off taped insulation on my running shoes. I did not suffer, however my results were disappointing: 21:19 this year to last year’s 20:27. Last year was over 81%, this year I didn’t crack 79%. My pace of 6:52 was only 2 seconds faster than my effort at the Holiday Classic 10k Classic a mere 2 and half months ago. However, redemption is merely one race away.
Gary Gosselin was our second scorer. If I wasn’t wearing a Buff I would have felt his hot breath on my neck. His 21:33 was just shy of 75%. Last year he ran it in 22 flat. He is going in the right direction, pulling us along with him.
Gary: “ Dave , I hope you are OK. It has been so hazardous afoot these days with the melting, freezing and ice.
Hank, you lead us in scoring again despite being a minute off your goal time. Have a safe trip back from the snowy north.
Kevin, nice scoring run at the 5K.
Phil, welcome back to the roads.
George, excellent race at 78.17% AG.
It looks like more winter weather is arriving this PM.
I am heading back to the treadmill until the weather breaks.
I hope to be ready for the NYC Half in two weeks and the Boston Marathon in 8 weeks.
Here’s to the new racing season. May everyone attain their goals.”
Kevin McGuire was our third scorer in 23:03, a mere 6 seconds slower than last year’s 22:57. His performance was just a tad below 71.5%.
Kevin: “Always enjoy our season opener and seeing all our teammates. The weather was fine plus the big breakfast with Tony , Ani and Larry after the race.”
Was happy to only be 6 seconds off last year’s race. It’s a very tactical race while keeping one eye out for potholes.
On a side note I graduated High School in 1969 with “Ben & Jerry” . They are from Merrick not Vermont.”
Note: I am staying in Waterbury, Vermont, the town famous for the Ben & Jerry’s and Heady Topper, double IPA. Hank
Phil Vasquez was our first back up. Recovering from foot surgery, he has committed himself to track and road, with this, his inaugural team point race. Phil ran this in 26:20. Two years ago he ran it in 22:29. But he had a lot less metal in his feet back then.
George Hirsch, our second back up, was snapping at Phil’s heels running 26:54, 1st (and our only) in age group and 78.17%. Consider, our second back up pulled it off so nicely at 80. George faces the unique situation of being a serious runner with little to no competition due to attrition and will. It is one thing to run with the pack, but quite another to be a pioneer.
Dave Delano rounded us out at 28:54 two minutes behind George . His last year time was 28:14.
Dave : “Well, since the conditions did not live up to the alert level touted by the weather service, the race was fairly comfortable. I spent most of the race looking down for snow piles and ice patches, not to mention the horrible road conditions. The road surface was really treacherous; I saw several runners stumble and nearly fall. I caught up with Gary in the baggage area and we hustled to the train station and home.
Oddly enough, I saved my fall for Monday morning on Lexington Avenue…must have been quite spectacular, because I attracted several good samaritans who wanted to put me in an ambulance. Luckily, landed flat on my back and didn’t hit my head, but my shoulders and back are really stiff and sore. Damn, this winter has been rough. On to Scotland….”
Thus CPTC Mens 60+ is firmly in 3rd position for the current team point race season.
Yes Dave , the Scotland 10k is April 4th with race registration nearing capacity; don’t wait to get on board. Let’s see if we can move on up the team points ladder.
Captain Hank